Melissa Carr
Partner
Melissa Carr is a seasoned trial lawyer, certified mediator, and member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). She has first-chaired nearly thirty jury trials and handled hundreds of mediations and depositions. Melissa’s diverse practice experience—including roles as managing in-house counsel for a national insurance company, lead plaintiffs’ attorney, and law firm partner—provides a rare depth of insight to every case. Over the course of her career, she has built a reputation for her courtroom expertise, strategic judgment, and unwavering dedication to her clients.
Melissa’s focus on strong communication helps business leaders and individual clients resolve disputes while keeping their priorities at the forefront. Her practice spans a wide range of civil matters, including commercial litigation, business and partnership disputes, construction matters, employment discrimination, premises liability, insurance coverage, contract and real estate disputes, and personal injury.
University of Akron School of Law, J.D. (2004)
University of Queensland, Australia, Diplomate, International and Comparative Law Program (2002)
Heidelberg College, B.A., Magna Cum Laude (1998)
University of Texas School of Law Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, Certified Mediator (2015)
• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
• Austin Bar Association
• Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association
• Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association (2013-2015)
State Bar of Texas (2008)
State Bar of Ohio (2004, Inactive)
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (2023)
Federal District Courts in Texas
• Update: Secondary Payor, Medicare and Medicaid—What Every Insurer and Insured Needs to Know; 2016 and 2017 Ultimate Claims Handling Seminars
• Automobile Claims: Liability, Damages and UM/UIM; 2017 Ultimate Claims Handling Seminar
• Defending Against the Reptile Theory; 2018 Ultimate Claims Handling Seminar, 2019 State Bar of Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar
• A Defense Perspective on Medical Records; 2019 Car Crash Seminar
• Defamation Basics; 2020 CAPA Luncheon
• Equity Summit, 2024 panel speaker on “Breaking Barriers: First Generation Attorneys”
• Preparing for your First (or Next) Deposition, 2024 TexasBarCLE at Texas Law Center
• Lawyers on the Jury, 2025 Austin Bar Association CLE
• Chair, Austin Bar Association Insurance Law Section (2025-present)
• Co-Chair, ABOTA James Otis Lecture Series (2024-present)
• Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) (Ohio, 2004-2007)
• Street Law (Ohio, 2004-2007)
• Instructor, Upward Bound (Ohio, 2005)